Friday, October 31, 2008

I managed to make a patchwork pumpkin after all. This is from the same pattern that Rachael Rabbit had on her blog as a tutorial last week. I crazy pieced a large square and then cut the pumpkin shapes out of that.

And as if that isn't enough, I also made some little crocheted pumpkins. I used the Amigurumi Pumpkins pattern that Opal had on her blog.

"Oh, my gosh! These are like sooooo fun!"

Those are the words of a former student of mine. It's been years, but I can still hear her enthusiastic voice! When it comes to these little pumpkins I have to borrow her words and her enthusiasm! Because they were easy, fast and fun to make! Also addictive! But then anything Amigurumi is addictive for me! I did them all while watching a movie on television yesterday. Thanks Opal!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Aren't they beautiful? I wonder if I'll still say that next April. Oh, well.

Yes, folks! We had snow last night. Not a lot, but enough to create havoc on our streets during this morning's rush hour. Driving was treacherous! Bridges freeze first and it seemed that every bridge had an accident on it! Traffic was snarled and people were late for work. But I didn't care! I got on the wheeltrans bus, scooter and all, and was driven to my physiotherapy appointment. They were at my door half an hour early, so I enjoyed the drive, looking out in wonder at all the snow. Most of our trees still have leaves, so they were heavy with snow and looked amazing! This is what was left in my garden when I got home around 11:00am.

Thank you to everyone who left such wonderful, encouraging comments on my last few posts! I really appreciate it! Thanks again!

Monday, October 27, 2008

I started this little wallhanging a couple of years ago. At that time, I thought it was very cute and I had great hopes for it. But, unfortunately, I didn't get it finished before that Halloween and as a result it has been languishing in my UFO (UnFinished Objects) pile for over two years! But my UFO days are over! Well, not really. I still have lots more to finish. In fact, I don't dare admit to how many there actually are! But, in my attempt to finish as many as possible, I sandwiched it and quilted it last week. It was a good opportunity to practice my stipple quilting on the background. Then I had my DH hang it on the wall at my DD's house. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. And now it has a place of honour to greet her Halloween ghouls and goblins.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Autumn is in full swing around here! And as with autumn, my mind also seems to be in its latter stages of development! Some days I am glad that there is no one around to ask me who I am, where I live and what day it is! That is why this little miracle is so important to me!

Now, I know this is just a small step and I know I am not becoming a computer geek, but it is nice to be able to make my computer perform functions that it was meant to perform. What I am trying to say is, "I think I have figured out the 'link thing'!" It was not a revelation. Nor was it carefully researched, studied and implemented. It was more of an infant-learned thing. Kind of like a second childhood, I guess. I was typing on my blog and suddenly a 'link' came up. I had no idea how I had made that happen. Kind of like an baby who waves a rattle in the air and is astonished by the sound it makes! I tried to duplicate the sound, er, I mean, 'link thing', but couldn't remember which keys I had hit. I tried different combinations, and after many, many tries, I finally had a "By gosh! I think I've got it!" moment. Those are the exciting times of my life!

So now that I am able to 'link' stuff, I'd like to tell you all about the upcoming Rouge Valley Quilt Guild's Quilt Show. Just click on the icon and it will take you to the home page. Then click on 'quilt show' and you can read all about it! I am very excited about the Quilt Show. Not because I have any quilt in it, because I don't. I was not able to complete anything last year to enter into the show! But it will be great to see what all the other members have been up to! And I am also excited because I am now able to link to anything on this blog! The show runs this Friday and Saturday (October 24th and 25th) out in Ajax, so if you're in the Greater Toronto Area, why not come along for some lovely eye candy and maybe a cup of tea and a slice of banana bread! There will also be a vendor's marketplace. That's where you'll find me! I can't wait to see what is new on the quilt scene! I haven't been out much lately!

And now I leave you with a gorgeous image of Highland Creek in all its autumn splendor! Kind of like my mind - a little over-exposed perhaps, but colourful just the same!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

My Little Ponies

It was a lovely fall day. The sun was shining brightly. The air was crisp and clear. Nature was at its fall best - warm autumn colours against a beautiful cerulean sky! Breathtaking! The ponies decided to go out for a walk in the park. They love the fall colours! And they love romping around in the grass! Ponies are like that, you know.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Thanks to Rachael Rabbit's blog, I was able to make some really cute little pumpkins! She has a tutorial for them on her blog. Check it out. I didn't follow her instructions exactly. Instead, I used a different piece of fabric for each of the six sections of the pumpkin. They are sooooooo easy to make! But I have to warn you. They are highly addictive! It's impossible to stop at just one! I made five of them in an hour or so, in different sizes and colours. I think I like the orange one the best. I might make a few more in that colour, but in patchwork, the way Rachael suggests in her blog.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Me: Yes! Isn't it exciting? It's from Nicolette in Holland! It's something I won in her last contest when she posted her 70th blog for this year! I can't wait to open it!

Mimi: Oh, it does smell interesting. Okay. Open it and let me see what she sent you.

Me: Oh! This is great! Absolutely super! It's a cloth covered notepad, just as she promised! Isn't it beautiful? And you know me! I love notepads! I love to write notes!

Mimi: Yes! I know!

Me: The colours are very beautiful and Nicolette's sewing skills are fantastic! And look, Mimi, she has included some real Dutch candies. Hopjes! Echte Haagse Hopjes! I remember these from when I was a kid. They still look exactly the same! It seems as if nothing has changed in the last 50 years!

Mimi: Except you!!!

Me: Be nice Mimi! Actually now that I have this gift, there is nothing that you can say to make me feel bad today!!! I feel great! Oh! I have to send her a thank you!

Mimi: Okay. I'm sorry. Can I help you write a thank you card?

Me: Okay. Here's a pen.

Mimi: Hmmmm. This is hard for me to do. I can't seem to hold the pen right.

Me: Okay, then I will do it! So...... Thank you Nicolette! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I love my new notepad! And the Hopjes! You're the best! And I love your blog!

Mimi: Can I go back to napping now?

Me: Yeah, Yeah, sure, whatever. Oh! I am going to make a list of quilts that I want to finish! And a list of all the plants in my garden. And maybe a list of questions to ask the specialist on my next visit. I can take notes when I watch the next quilt show on television. Oh, and things to buy at the quilt shop. What to make for dinner. Recipes. Quilt ideas. And.............

Mimi: Nicolette. I think you have created a monster! By the way, say 'Hi!' to Midas for me.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

I am happy to say that another one of my UFOs became a completed quilt this morning! I started this quilt about two and a half years ago. That's a long time, I know! It was meant to be a 'teaching' quilt. A friend of mine wanted to learn to do this 'Quilt as you Go' technique. After I had cut all the fabric, she decided that it was too complicated for her. I decided to finish it anyway. It really isn't complicated at all! I used a Christmas bear design for my focus fabric. Then I used up all kinds of scraps from my stash. It was fun to make, even though I had to put it down several times when life got in the way. This quilt measures 53in. x 66in. (135cm x 168cm) It will add to my Christmas decorations this year and will keep us warm while watching those great seasonal programs. I can hardly wait for the Grinch who stole Christmas and Charlie Brown!This is the back of the quilt. I used a variety of Christmas fabrics. Each 6 1/2in square was constructed individually, then joined with strips of sashing which had to hand sewn on the back. Everything else was done by machine. The pattern for this quilt came from a 'Simon Says' technique which Irene Dewar taught a few years ago at the Quilter's Garden. I really like this method because the quilt doesn't have to be sandwiched and then quilted. Everything is done in one step. I made this quilt with Irene using a 'Dick and Jane' fabric.

This fabric was really cute and reminded me of my early school years here in Canada. That is not to say that they were fond memories! The fabric is copied from the Dick and Jane series of the 'Early Readers' used in Toronto schools during the late 50's. Fortunately these readers are no longer used today!

I immigrated to Canada in March of 1957 with my parents and sisters. In Holland, the country were I was born, I was in grade 3 at that time. When my parents went to enroll me at school here, the principal had no idea what to do with me! There were no ESL programs in the schools at that time. I was put into a grade 2 class, even though it was almost the end of the school year. I didn't speak a word of English, so I had to learn it. Each morning during language class, I had to read those 'stupid' umm I mean, fascinating Dick and Jane books. "See Dick! See Dick run! Come, Spot, come! See Jane!" OMG! I even had to take those dumb books home and practice reading with my parents - who were delighted with my dubious progress! I couldn't wait for June! I was only able to get a few yards of this fabric. It was very popular when it first came out! I even ordered more, but found out that it was no longer being produced. Apparently the designer had 'stolen' the Dick and Jane pictures without permission. So I have fabric that is probably illegal! But that fits in perfectly with my memories of those books! I used an allover star fabric for the back. This quilt measures approximately 40in. x 53in. (102cm x 135cm) I think I will save this one for a future grandchild - if there is one. I just couldn't give away all of these wonderful memories!

Me: Okay. You sleep while I do a bit of cleaning up. This is so exciting! I love it when a quilt is finished! It is so satisfying! This quilt is based on the bear quilt that was included in the current Fons and Porter magazine, "Love of Quilting". I used the bear template, but I changed the layout. It went together really quickly and I am very pleased with it. Now I want to work on something else, but this sewing room is such a mess! I can't find anything! So..... Hi Ho, Hi Ho! It's cleaning up I'll go!

About Me

I became a quilter purely by accident. I had wanted to sign up for a woodworking class, but it was full. So the only other class I could sign up for was a quilting course. I was not happy at first, but I fell in love with this craft! It is passion, history, creativity! I love it and I want to share it with the world.